On 30/03/2009 wallwombat wrote:>Hello everyone! If you haven't already figured it out, I am drunk. No big>surprise. I know. I just wanted to clear the air. Have a nice day.>>-Love Wombat

Hello everyone! If you haven't already figured it out, I sport climb. Not all the time though, it's more that if the situation arises where I can clip bolts, I'll do it. I think I do it more out of curiosity. I just wanted to clear the air. Have a nice day.

On 30/03/2009 Capt_mulch wrote:>Hello everyone! If you haven't already figured it out, I sport climb.>Not all the time though, it's more that if the situation arises where I>can clip bolts, I'll do it. I think I do it more out of curiosity. I just>wanted to clear the air. Have a nice day.>>Love,>>Nicky Na Na

I was going to comment but I didn't want to be labeled sportaphobic, so I decided not to.

On 30/03/2009 Sabu wrote:>I fail to see how that comment was any sort of an issue and the reply seems>very odd to >me.

The second (benign) comment was deleted by the user them self - no idea why. The offensive comment was post #4 and was posted by a brand new user created anonymously. That comment and user has been deleted.

I posted a supportive comment between the first two posts above. It was taken one way by the original poster - the way that I did not intend. At the risk of the whole thread disintegrating into a slanging war I withdrew and deleted the post. I reckon that Darren's account has been hacked.

Using gay as a term of abuse is really offensive. Being gay is an instrinsic part of some peoples lives and identity. No one ever says "this whole thread is straight". "So and so is so white". "I had the curlyhairest day". "What a poodle loving thing to do". Saying something is gay only has meaning in the context of the alienation and oppression of gay people.

I think it's great that cruze was supportive, especially if this was genuine, but as an example of appropriate behaviour anyway! However, I do see the problem with feeling a need to identify with not being gay. Being supportive of an individual or group doesn't mean that you are part of that group. I can support equality for black people without being black or an end to elephant poaching without being an elephant. I wouldn't feel a need to identify myself as not being black or an elephant. But part of the alienation of gay people is this perception that one has to point out that one is not gay (which is quite a common occurence) as if normally only gay people would be saying things in support of gay people and subtly perpetuating an us and them culture.

And if someone really has thought it would funny to hijack their friend's account like this, well, congratulations on having one of the smallest and least considerate minds around. How do you think it feels to the many people who are gay to have their sexuality used as a joke like this? What does it say about our acceptance of being gay as a natural and normal part of human life? How can we expect people to feel included in our society when we use a core part of their sense of self in these ways?

It's the same as calling someone a girl when they clearly are not. Yes it's derogatory (sp?) and if one is wound up a little then it will be offending. I have no problem with people being gay..... or being girls for that matter as I rather like girls. I am sorry if I offended anybody.

On a side note, one defintition of gay is happy. How did you know which way I was swingning when I said that?